Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten Math

If you have a child going into kindergarten in the fall, the Neshaminy School District has some tips on preparing him or her for math.

The district has a list of questions to ask yourself about your child's math abilities:

• Can your child count to 10? How about starting at three and counting to 10? Starting at 6? (Rote counting)
• Can your child count up to 10 objects? Do they understand that the last number said is the amount of the whole group?
• Given 10 objects, can they count out seven?
• Can they identify the names of the numbers to 10?
• Can they write the numbers to 10?
• Can they match the number with the correct set of objects?
• Do they see that five objects is five no matter what the arrangement?

While in Neshaminy's kindergarten classes, students' math classes will be focused on the following:

• One more or one less without counting
• Changing numbers (7 to 9)
• Which is more or less
• Use knowledge of one number to count another
• How many more or less
• Recognize and describe parts of numbers in arrangements
• Describing shapes and space
• Teen numbers as ten plus leftovers

In addition, the district has some easy ways for you to work with your child to prepare them for kindergarten math:

• Make math a part of daily life
• Provide a lot of opportunities for counting
• Ask your child to explain how he or she knows
• Work with Geoboards, shape blocks, Cuisenaire rods, ten frames
• Play board games such as Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Checkers and Chinese Checkers.